It's bitterly cold and we are in trouble. Snow falls from the sky; not hard, it's soft and almost floating. It should be lovely and when we had our fire it was good to sit in the cave and watch it. Then we had terrible luck. Tree, who carried the coals near the end of … Continue reading Carrying fire
Kill Your Darlings… metaphorically, anyway
I've recently discovered a literary journal called 'Kill Your Darlings'; I presume the title is derived from William Faulkner's notion that 'in writing, one must kill one's darlings...' or words to that effect. The fiction looks interesting and the articles provocative. Try this one: http://www.killyourdarlingsjournal.com/?post_type=article&p=10190
Hello, goodbye
A brief anecdote about a song... and soon to be published on stereostories@gmx.com There I was, gaga with all my recent speechlessness, crouched down with Geraldine and Natty seated on the gutter. She scuffed out her cigarette against the gutter and looked at me after a while and said, 'How're you, Grif'?' 'Okay,' I said. 'How … Continue reading Hello, goodbye
Films featuring cartoon characters and perceptions regarding terrorism
Watching Iron Man 3 last night prompted these idle meanderings re the nature of the psychology of terrorism. Iron Man 3, by the way, seems the best of the Iron Man films... so far. I say so far because I suspect that, as the credits at the end said, Tony Stark will be back. Stark desire for money, stark desire to … Continue reading Films featuring cartoon characters and perceptions regarding terrorism
Ch 5: Human nature — The hierarchy of needs
A bit from the chapter I'm writing: Capitalism plays to what is most insidious in human ‘nature’: competitiveness, acquisitiveness, instant gratification, tribalism. It’s fundamental mandates, the profit motive; economies of scale; the price mechanism; inelasticity of demand… allow this game. The game derives from its character. Capitalism is not programmed for altruism. It is, and … Continue reading Ch 5: Human nature — The hierarchy of needs
A free story (for Year 7) from my History Short Story Book
ANCIENT GREECE: The Other Runner (The story) A little cloud of dust and a hubbub, boys calling to each other, the unmistakeable sounds of a school yard brawl. Diemeter wandered across, not so fast that the boys would notice him and call it off… And thus, a slight figure amongst older boys he’d hoped would … Continue reading A free story (for Year 7) from my History Short Story Book
Must be getting old
I've taken to re-reading old loved titles, boys' own yarns such as H. Rider Haggard's Quartermaine novels and others, such as Stuart Cloete's Rags of Glory. Some I am rediscovering my affection for; others not so much. Here is my review of: The H. Rider Haggard Omnibus: 50 Novels and Short Stories (Halcyon Classics) (Kindle Edition) Despite … Continue reading Must be getting old
The beguiling sins of Industrial Capitalism
It seems to me that Industrial Capitalism deserves a tome (popular in style and tone) cataloguing its beguiling sins. By Industrial Capitalism I mean that invidious, factory-based, technologically-innovative, profit-driven, labour-exploiting form which grew up in Europe (first in the United Kingdom) and later the USA, out of various Industrial Revolutions. And this catalogue of sins? … Continue reading The beguiling sins of Industrial Capitalism
Gapminder – what a great resource
Many an IDEAS FESTIVAL wants people to think about 'the way we think, eat, move, build, care, communicate and share information'. Gapminder.org is a phenomenally useful site and resource, particularly for Years 9- 12, though with opportunities to be employed even in the upper primary Years. Gapminder's primary focus is on using statistics to explore developmental … Continue reading Gapminder – what a great resource
Top 10 teachable novels – a list of sorts
Here's my list (the order is not important.) Tomorrow when the war began. For year 9 or 10. Students, even reluctant readers, respond to this book and it would be eminently teachable given that there is now a recent film. Holes: Easy reading, big themes; an apparently simple book but the result of skilled writing - for … Continue reading Top 10 teachable novels – a list of sorts
Inkstained fingers 